WIC foods mailed to rural areas subject to recall

OvaEasy dried eggs recalled due to possible salmonella contamination

ANCHORAGE — Nutriom LLC, a Lacey, Wash., company, is recalling processed egg products that may be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria. The egg products, called OvaEasy, are distributed by the Alaska Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program to individuals in rural areas of Alaska. Alaskans who have received these products from the WIC program or who have purchased them through another vendor should immediately discard them.

The Alaska WIC program, part of the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, ships OvaEasy dried eggs directly to participants in rural communities that do not have a local WIC-authorized retailer. As a precaution, the WIC program recommends that any OvaEasy egg products from the affected lots should be discarded and not consumed.

The following OvaEasy egg products were shipped to WIC clients in rural areas of Alaska:

Raw eggs and egg products should always be cooked to a temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit in order to avoid contracting salmonellosis. Consumption of food contaminated with salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. The most common symptoms of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating the contaminated product. The illness usually lasts four to seven days. Most people recover without treatment. In some persons, however, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. Older adults, infants and persons with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop a severe illness. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact their health care provider.